96 keyless entry

[LT4hitsthespot]

I know there have been several posts about these. I ran a search but didn't see exactly what I was lokoing for so I thought I'd see if someone knows.

I am having problems with my remote working. I have tried several batteries and they don't seem to help. It does work, occasionally. It has a mind of it's own. It will lock and unlock the doors one time and the next time it won't. As far as the buttons go, the rear glass release usually won't work.

My question is, if it is working sometimes, will replacing the remote do me any good? How do you check the receiver? Any clue as to why it works sometimes and not others? I finally gave up and took it off the key ring. I would say that it was probably working about 15-20% of the time before.

 

[Dean Barker]

I'm having a problem with my 96 also. It suddenly wouldn't lock the doors. When I would manually lock the doors, it would unlock the RH door only with the fob. The hatch would always unlock with the fob button; then it wouldn't. I've ordered new batteries for both fobs. Maybe this isn't it? I asked my service manager (nephew) if he could fix my passive system. He didn't know there was such a thing. I guess I'm on my own. All I found about the system in the service manual was to check to see if the horn worked; if it did, see your service manager.

 

[jmccloud]

PKE from left field

My PKE almost always fails if my cell phone is in the car and the phone is turned on.

If the phone is on charge inside the car, the PKE won't work - ever.

Lots of metallic objects in my pocket inhibit it a little too. Holding it by the key and swinging it freely works well. Might as well push the button or use the key.

So, if you want to really impress someone special, put the fob in your otherwise empty back pocket and make sure your cell phone isn't inside on charge.

 

[Dean Barker]

Now that I think about it; PKE hasn't worked since I charged up my cell phone in the Corvette. That shouldn't have had anything to do with the PKE as the cell phone is now in the house. Still haven't received the batteries as they are different from other GM batteries.

 

[jmccloud]

Pke On/off

Read up on how the PKE is deactivated/activated and switched between 1 door and 2 door operation. If you held the door button down for several seconds trying to get the system to work, you may have deactivated the PKE or changed from 2 to 1 door operation (depending on whether the key was in the ignition at the time).
Do you have an owner's manual to look this up? If not there are several threads in this forum that have the details.
If only the passenger door or rear hatch is working from the fob, the driver's door actuator may be malfunctioning.
If either "Door Ajar" switch is misadjusted, the PKE will be intermittent or nonfunctional since the car won't know when the doors are closed. This can be really perplexing if the car is parked on an irregular surface when flexing can cause the door ajar switch to fail or function.

 

[Chetzki]

I had the same types of problems and it was due to bad battery contact because the case would not shut tightly. If it lost contact one time, it acted squirrely until the case was tight and PKE was reset. Mine is superglued shut now. I can break the glue when the battery dies.

Chetzki

 

[LT4hitsthespot]

Come to think of it my case didn't seal very well but I still couldn't get it to work when I squeezed the case shut and pushed the button. I tried programming it but the car wouldn't recognize it. I guess I'll look for another one. I was just worried that it might be the receiver in the car and I'd be wasting my money.

 

[Chetzki]

Make sure the case stays tight (wrap a rubber band around it) and then re-program and try it. Once the battery has lost contact, the unit behaves unpredictably.

 

[Dean Barker]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. New batteries still not in.